MLB Rumors

Mets outfielder Rick Ankiel went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run Saturday in an 8-2 loss to the Cubs.

Ankiel scored once and struck out once. He has hit safely in four-straight games and is batting .300 with two home runs in six games since joining the Mets.  

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy hit safely in his seventh game in a row Saturday against the Cubs, pushing his batting average back above .300.

Murphy went 2 for 4 with two singles and struck out once in an 8-2 loss. Murphy has multiple hits in four of seven games, batting .500 during his streak.

Murphy's batting average fell to a season-low .258 May 11. 

After going 18 games in a row without a home run before Friday, Reds first baseman Joey Votto did not wait long for his next one. Votto homered Saturday for the second game in a row, while reaching base six times in a 10-0 win over the Phillies.

Votto went 4 for 4 with a double and the HR. He drove in two runs and scored twice.

Votto's on-base percentage is .473, which would be the highest for a season in the majors since 2004. He has six home runs and 20 RBI to go with a 1.004 on-base plus slugging percentage. He leads the National League with 37 walks and ranks third with a .346 batting average. 

Angels right fielder Josh Hamilton came into Saturday's game against the White Sox as a defensive replacement after being scratched from the pre-game lineup. Hamilton was receiving a day off to recharge but instead went 1 for 1 with a walk and a run scored after entering the game.

Reds infielder Todd Frazier has not homered in May, but he showed a little life Saturday in a 10-0 win over the Phillies.

Frazier went 2 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored, ending a four-game hitless streak. Frazier is 7 for 44 in May, with a .474 on-base plus slugging percentage. He had six home runs in April. 

The Orioles announced after Saturday's game that infielder Ryan Flaherty has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He entered Saturday's game as a defensive replacement at second base.

Flaherty hit .133/.228/.233 with two home runs in 102 plate appearances with the Orioles. A corresponding roster move will be announced Sunday.

Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan entered Saturda against the Phillies with two RBI in 52 at-bats, a total he more than doubled with one swing.

Hanigan hit a three-run home run in the second inning off Phillies' starter Kyle Kendrick, his first of the season. He added a walk and a run scored to finish 1 for 3 in a 10-0 win.

Hanigan is batting .164 with five RBI in 55 at-bats. 

Twins pitcher Cole De Vries was activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday and optioned to Triple-A Rochester after making three rehab starts, MLB.com reports.

"It was a positive because he didn't have any setbacks," assistant general manager Rob Antony told MLB.com. "He worked hard to come back healthy. Right now, we just don't think he's ready to help us, but he's healthy, so we didn't want to keep him on the DL so we optioned him. I think he understood and everything is fine."

De Vries gave up six runs on 11 hits in four innings in his last rehab appearance before being activated.

Angels closer Ernesto Frieri was called upon with two runners on and two outs in the eighth inning Saturday against the White Sox. Although he allowed a three-run home run to the first batter he faced, Frieri held on for his eighth save.

Frieri was charged with an earned run (the home-run hitter) and struck out three in 1 1/3 innings. Frieri had allowed one hit and no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in May before Saturday.

Angels starting pitcher Joe Blanton allowed 11 hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings Saturday against the White Sox, striking out six and allowing four earned runs. He was on the hook for the loss when he left the game, but the Angels took the lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Blanton's time in the rotation could be coming to an end with Jered Weaver and Tommy Hanson expected to rejoin the Angels soon. Blanton, who has allowed 23 hits in nine innings over his last two starts, could face the Royals next weekend.